Greece makes POS mandatory everywhere with connection to cash registers

Greece is counting down to more “Big Brother” style measures as from next spring no business or freelancer will be able to make a payment via POS without first issuing a receipt from the cash register.

2023 is a milestone year for the implementation of the interconnection of cash registers with POS, while it is estimated that the mandatory installation of POS will be implemented in almost all sectors of freelancers and businesses.

Gradual implementation

The Tax Authority’s plan foresees that from next spring, the gradual implementation of the interconnection of the cash registers with the POS and their connection with the Indepemdemt Public Revenue Authority-AADE electronic systems will begin. This means that the amount and time of issuance of receipts and the method of payment by the customer will be checked online.

That is, according to the design of AADE, cash registers and POS essentially become an instrument for the complete recording of all data in real time and there is the possibility of direct cross-checking by the control mechanisms.

Cash registers and POS will not work autonomously for debit transactions, i.e. for card payments, the payment amount will not be allowed to be typed into the POS. The amount will come out of the cash register.

It should be noted that with two decisions signed by the governor of AADE Giorgos Pitsilis at the end of 2022, technical specifications for two new types of Tax Electronic Mechanisms are defined, while at the same time the interface specifications between cash registers and POS are improved.

What changes?

The tax authorities will have insight into the amount and time of issuance of retail sales receipts and the method of payment by the customer. Cases of income concealment and VAT theft by those who do not issue receipts will be detected.

From the checks so far it has been found that many businesses in their transactions with customers, although they use credit or debit cards, do not issue the retail receipt.

Although the POS accepts the transaction, the shopkeeper either does not cut a receipt at all or issues it with a smaller amount. For card payments it will not be allowed to type the payment amount into the POS. However, the amount will come out of the cash register.